30 seconds of silence likely on flights carrying soldiers’ bodies

NEW DELHI: Indian carriers may soon ask passengers to observe 30 seconds of silence if the aircraft is carrying the mortal remains of military personnel who have died in combat.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has forwarded a proposal from the armed forces to all airlines for comments, and government officials indicated that it may soon be accepted. “This proposal had come from the armed forces and we have forwarded it to airlines seeking their views,” said a senior official at the aviation regulator. “Airlines have to be taken on board before any decision is taken.”

DGCA also forwarded a possible template for the announcement that could be made on such flights. Oddly enough, the template includes terms like ‘proud’ and ‘privileged’ while referring to martyred soldiers. However, a DGCA official said the script had not been prepared by the regulator.


Experts Bemused
“It is our proud privilege/moment to announce that today on our flight we have amongst us the mortal remains of an extremely brave and gallant soldier of the Indian Army/Navy/Air Force… We request you to observe 30 seconds of silence for the departed soul,” reads the template forwarded by the regulator.

“The script is in the draft stage, and not final yet. It will be finalised based on suggestions from airlines,” the DGCA official added.

An airline official, speaking off the record, hinted that using words like ‘proud’ and ‘privileged’ may be inappropriate. “I think it is a bit awkward when carrying their remains. If they were on board it would be fine,” said the official. Some experts were bemused by the regulator’s move.

“Bodies of martyrs are being carried in flights for many years and everyone involved in the process, including the airline, pay the respect they deserve,” said Shakti Lumba, an aviation analyst and former head of operations at IndiGo and Air India. Such directives should come from the government directly rather than the aviation regulator, he said.

The current rules followed by airlines while carrying bodies of armed forces personnel do not include any announcement.

Carriers have to conduct a brief ceremony before loading a soldier’s body on to an aircraft and after bringing it out on arrival. “We go beyond the prescribed rules in paying respect to a deceased soldier’s body,” said an airline executive, seeking anonymity.

Another airline executive, who did not wish to be quoted as he is not authorised to speak to the media, suggested the regulator should pay attention to other issues that plague the sector.

“DGCA seems to be focussing on all the wrong aspects of aviation,” he said. “Instead of becoming an aviation regulator, it has become a regulator for nationalistic fervour.” The regulator recently directed airlines to carry more Hindi newspapers and magazines so that their number equalled those of English periodicals. ET reported this first on July 20.

The July 17 letter, written in Hindi by DGCA joint directorgeneral Lalit Gupta, said Indian aircraft do not carry Hindi newspapers and magazines or carry them in limited numbers.

“This goes against the official language policy of the Indian Union. Let it be kindly ensured that aircraft carry equal numbers of Hindi and English newspapers.” An official order to this effect has already been issued.